IV

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. RES. 255

Condemning bigotry and violence against Sikh Americans in the wake of

terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

OCTOBER 4, 2001

Mr. HONDA (for himself, Mr. SHAYS, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. SERRANO, Mr.

BROWN of Ohio, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mr. MATSUI, Mr. BERMAN,

Mr. DELAHUNT, Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. FARR of California, Mr. FERGUSON,

Mr. DINGELL, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. CARSON of Indiana, Mr. FORD, Mr.

FRELINGHUYSEN, Mr. HERGER, Mr. HAYWORTH, Mr. CLEMENT, Ms.

BERKLEY, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Mr. LOBIONDO, Mr.

SOUDER, Mr. KIRK, Mr. CONDIT, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mrs. BIGGERT,

Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mr. BECERRA, Mr. HYDE, Mr. ISRAEL, Mrs.

JOHNSON of Connecticut, Mr. BLAGOJEVICH, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. PASTOR,

Mr. SIMMONS, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. KING, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. POMBO,

Mr. PALLONE, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. DOGGETT, Mr. KNOLLENBERG, Mr.

MEEHAN, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. COOKSEY, Mr. ANDREWS, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. EVANS, Mrs. TAUSCHER,

Ms. SOLIS, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. CRAMER, Mr. HASTINGS of

Florida, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. SHERMAN, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Mrs. MORELLA, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. TOM

DAVIS of Virginia, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. BISHOP, Mr.

BURTON of Indiana, Ms. WATSON of California, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Mr.

BACA, Mr. HORN, Mr. WU, Mr. LANTOS, Mrs. MINK of Hawaii, Mr.

UNDERWOOD, Ms. MCKINNEY, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. FROST, Mr.

FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. BORSKI, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE

JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. STARK, Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mr.

SMITH of New Jersey, Ms. LEE, Mr. OSE, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr.

MCDERMOTT, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin, Mr. KLECZKA,

Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. LEWIS

of California, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. BONIOR, Mr. HOLT, Mr. CAPUANO,

Mr. FATTAH, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. REYES, Mrs. MCCARTHY of New

York, Mr. VISCLOSKY, Mr. BOUCHER, Mr. FILNER, Mr. CONYERS, Mr.

DICKS, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, and Mr. LAMPSON) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on

the Judiciary
2

•HRES 255 IH

RESOLUTION

Condemning bigotry and violence against Sikh Americans

in the wake of terrorist attacks against the United States

on September 11, 2001.

Whereas all Americans are united in condemning, in the

strongest possible terms, the terrorists who planned and

carried out the attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001, and in pursuing all those responsible

for those attacks and their sponsors until they are

brought to justice;

Whereas Sikh Americans form a vibrant, peaceful, and lawabiding part of America’s people;

Whereas approximately 500,000 Sikh Americans reside in the

United States and are a vital part of the Nation;

Whereas Sikh Americans stand resolutely in support of the

commitment of our Government to bring the terrorists

and those that harbor them to justice;

Whereas the Sikh faith is a distinct religion with a distinct

religious and ethnic identity that has its own places of

worship and a distinct holy text and religious tenets;

Whereas many Sikh Americans, who are easily recognizable

by their turbans and beards, which are required articles

of their faith, have suffered both verbal and physical assaults as a result of misguided anger toward Arab Americans and Muslim Americans in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack;

Whereas Sikh Americans, as do all Americans, condemn acts

of hate and prejudice against any American; and

Whereas the House of Representatives is seriously concerned

by the number of hate crimes against Sikh Americans
3

•HRES 255 IH

and other Americans all across the Nation that have been

reported in the wake of the tragic events that unfolded

on September 11, 2001: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

2 (1) declares that, in the quest to identify, lo3 cate, and bring to justice the perpetrators and spon4 sors of the terrorist attacks on the United States on

5 September 11, 2001, the civil rights and civil lib6 erties of all Americans, including Sikh Americans,

7 should be protected;

8 (2) condemns bigotry and any acts of violence

9 or discrimination against any Americans, including

10 Sikh Americans;

11 (3) calls upon local and Federal law enforce12 ment authorities to work to prevent hate crimes

13 against all Americans, including Sikh Americans;

14 and

15 (4) calls upon local and Federal law enforce16 ment authorities to prosecute to the fullest extent of

17 the law all those who commit hate crimes.

Æ